Lisburn firm clinches deal with Japanese supermarket giant

An award-winning Lisburn firm has clinched an important export order to supply goods to Japanese retail giant Hanamasa.

FifthSense Trading Company represents Irish speciality food manufacturers and has secured numerous orders in the US due to the company’s close working relationship with US super-deli chain Trader Joe’s. FifthSense initially approached Hanamasa earlier in the year, and has now been selected by the Tokyo-based supermarket chain to supply a 20’ container of St Brendan’s Superior Irish Cream Liqueur – representing Saint Brendan’s first Japanese export order for the product.

Carol McIlroy, Director of FifthSense, said: “We are absolutely delighted with this first and significant order from Hanamasa. When we started out, we were told that it would take years to build up a relationship with the Japanese that would secure an order. Actually it’s taken FifthSense only seven months.

“We hope it represents the start of a long and lucrative relationship for Saint Brendan's and for other food manufacturers who are interested in gaining access, through FifthSense, to overseas business.”

First established in 1923 as a meat shop, Hanamasa has since grown to incorporate 44 restaurants and 33 supermarkets in Tokyo, and 20 overseas outlets in Indonesia, China and Korea. The retain chain is actively seeking unique and innovative foreign brands and alcoholic drinks for sale in the Japanese market.

Christina McElhinney, regional manager, Saint Brendan's Irish Cream Liqueur Co. Ltd added: “It is extremely gratifying to achieve new business in uncharted territory at a time when downturn is very prevalent in many other sectors. We look forward to developing our business in this region and thank FifthSense for enabling this opportunity." (CL)